Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

Finally, my brothers,[a] (A)rejoice in the Lord. (B)To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for (C)the dogs, look out for (D)the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For (E)we are the circumcision, (F)who worship (G)by the Spirit of God[b] and (H)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— (I)though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: (J)circumcised on the eighth day, (K)of the people of Israel, (L)of the tribe of Benjamin, (M)a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, (N)a Pharisee; (O)as to zeal, (P)a persecutor of the church; (Q)as to righteousness under the law,[c] blameless. But (R)whatever gain I had, (S)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of (T)the surpassing worth of (U)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I (V)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having (W)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but (X)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 (Y)that I may know him and (Z)the power of his resurrection, and (AA)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may (AB)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (AC)obtained this or (AD)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: (AE)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for (AF)the prize of the upward (AG)call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are (AH)mature think this way, and if in anything (AI)you think otherwise, (AJ)God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only (AK)let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, (AL)join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk (AM)according to the example you have in us. 18 For (AN)many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you (AO)even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 (AP)Their end is destruction, (AQ)their god is their belly, and (AR)they glory in their shame, with (AS)minds set on earthly things. 20 But (AT)our citizenship is in heaven, and (AU)from it we (AV)await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform (AW)our lowly body (AX)to be like his glorious body, (AY)by the power that enables him even (AZ)to subject all things to himself.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 17
  2. Philippians 3:3 Some manuscripts God in spirit
  3. Philippians 3:6 Greek in the law

All for Christ

Finally, my brethren, (A)rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

(B)Beware of dogs, beware of (C)evil workers, (D)beware of the mutilation! For we are (E)the circumcision, (F)who worship [a]God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though (G)I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I (H)more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, (I)of the tribe of Benjamin, (J)a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, (K)a Pharisee; concerning zeal, (L)persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But (M)what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss (N)for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having (O)my own righteousness, which is from the law, but (P)that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the (Q)power of His resurrection, and (R)the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may (S)attain[b] to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already (T)attained,[c] or am already (U)perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [d]apprehended; but one thing I do, (V)forgetting those things which are behind and (W)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 (X)I press toward the goal for the prize of (Y)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are (Z)mature, (AA)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, (AB)God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [e]attained, (AC)let us walk (AD)by the same [f]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, (AE)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as (AF)you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are (AG)the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 (AH)whose end is destruction, (AI)whose god is their belly, and (AJ)whose glory is in their shame—(AK)who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For (AL)our citizenship is in heaven, (AM)from which we also (AN)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (AO)who will transform our lowly body that it may be (AP)conformed to His glorious body, (AQ)according to the working by which He is able even to (AR)subdue all things to Himself.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:3 NU, M in the Spirit of God
  2. Philippians 3:11 Lit. arrive at
  3. Philippians 3:12 obtained it
  4. Philippians 3:13 laid hold of it
  5. Philippians 3:16 arrived
  6. Philippians 3:16 NU omits rule and the rest of v. 16.